Media - Radio - The Archers

Question 1

Where is it aired?

Answer 1

Radio 4 (talk station - lots of news)

Question 2

How many weekly listeners does The Archers have?

Answer 2

5 million

Question 3

When did it establish?

Answer 3

1951 - world’s longest running radio soap drama

Question 4

When it is on?

Answer 4

2pm and 7pm, 6 episodes a week and an omnibus on Sunday

Question 5

What is its tagline?

Answer 5

‘Contemporary drama in a rural setting’

Question 6

Where is it set?

Answer 6

In the fictional village of Ambridge, in the county of Borsetshire

Question 7

What pub do the characters all meet at?

Answer 7

The Black Bull

Question 8

When did soap operas originate and who were the audience? Why?

Answer 8

1930s, females (they would be at home doing the chores), so they often feature strong female characters and matriarchs.

Question 9

Where can fans engage?

Answer 9

BBC website and social media fees

Question 10

Why was The Archers established?

Answer 10

Just after WW2 (rationing just finished and Britain’s economy needed building), therefore needed more food production. Was a way for Ministry of Agriculture to communicate important information - EDUCATION

Question 11

What sort of narrative is it?

Answer 11

Multi-stranded (key convention for soap operas, but sets Archers aside from other radio soap operas who are usually single narrative).

Question 12

What does the storyline usually revolve around?

Answer 12

Relationships (family, friends and work) -> reflects real life

Question 13

Does soap operas have more dialogue or action?

Answer 13

Dialogue

Question 14

Where does the drama originate from in soaps?

Answer 14

Conflict between characters

Question 15

Why does The Archers sometimes have to be re-recorded?

Answer 15

Portrays events at time of the broadcast, so if a major event happens, this will need to be added in. -> shows verisimilitude

Question 16

How often does recording take place?

Answer 16

Every 4 weeks

Question 17

How long are the actors employed for and how many episodes do they record?

Answer 17

6 days, record 24 episodes

Question 18

How long is each episode and how much time is given for recording?

Answer 18

13 minutes, 2 hours studio time

Question 19

How long after recording and episodes broadcast?

Answer 19

3-6 weeks

Question 20

Where can audiences listen not live?

Answer 20

Catch up BBC Radio 4 Extra (repeated), downloading the podcast or listen ‘on demand’ on BBC sounds.

Question 21

How many episodes have there been of The Archers?

Answer 21

20,000+

Question 22

Where can audiences listen live?

Answer 22

BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 website

Question 23

How does The Archers have technical convergence?

Answer 23

You can listen on serval platforms, all on one device (e.g BBC Radio 4, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 4 Extra)

Question 24

How is The Archers a cross-media product?

Answer 24

Incorporates different forms of media (social media, podcast, radio)

Question 25

What does The Archers pride itself in?

Answer 25

Portraying rural life

Question 26

What quality is The Archers perceived as?

Answer 26

High quality

Question 27

The Archers audience?

Answer 27

Well-educated, middle-class, professionals ABC1 (mostly middle-aged, white women)

Question 28

Why does The Archers have loyal followers?

Answer 28

Been on air for 70+ years

Question 29

How many characters are there and why is this significant?

Answer 29

100+ characters -> appeals to wide audience (different genders, ages, sexualities, ethnic backgrounds)

Question 30

What are some social media pages where fans can collaborate?

Answer 30

X and Facebook

Question 31

How has The Archers become more cutting edge?

Answer 31

Introducing controversial topics (reflecting problems in society) -> realism

Question 32

Who may be oppositional readers due to The Archers becoming more cutting edge?

Answer 32

Older audiences as they may be against the ‘melodramatic’ storylines

Question 33

What is the BBFC?

Answer 33

British Board of Film Classification, regulates and relates films in Britain (gives a set of BBFC classification guidelines).

Question 34

What is the purpose of the BBFC?

Answer 34

To protect children from ‘unsuitable and even harmful content’ AND provides media consumers with information about a film (so they can make an informed decision).

Question 35

What may the BBFC consider?

Answer 35

Discrimination Imitable behaviour Violence

Question 36

What are the age categories for theatrical release?

Answer 36

U, 12A, 15

Question 37

Why are age ratings important?

Answer 37

Enables a film to ATTRACT its target audience ( most blockbusters will aim for 12A to appeal to wider audience).

Question 38

Why is the BBFC reviewed regularly?

Answer 38

It updates in response to social change (key development in 1974 after the Jamie Bulger case).

Question 39

Why is a film more likely to be given a higher rating on DVD than for cinema release?

Answer 39

As at home the marketers can’t know if they are accompanied or not.

Question 40

What should U-rating include?

Answer 40

Set with a positive framework, offers reassuring counterbalances to any threat/ violence /scary scenes

Question 41

Dangerous behaviour for U-rating?

Answer 41

Clearly disapproved or completely unrealistic

Question 42

Discrimination for U-rating?

Answer 42

Unlikely to be acceptable

Question 43

Drugs for U-rating?

Answer 43

Reference to drugs must be infrequent or innocuous, or have valuable messaging to young children

Question 44

Language for U-rating?

Answer 44

May be mild and infrequent

Question 45

Nudity for U-rating?

Answer 45

May be occasional with no sexual relevance

Question 46

Sex for U-rating?

Answer 46

Mild sex reference / behaviour (e.g kissing)

Question 47

Threat and scary scenes for U-rating?

Answer 47

Very mild, reassuring outcome

Question 48

Violence for U-rating?

Answer 48

Very mild and justified by context (e.g comedic), mild injury detail

Question 49

What should a PG rating NOT do?

Answer 49

Shouldn’t unsettle a child around 8 years

Question 50

Why might some people have an oppositional reading to The Archers becoming more cutting edge?

Answer 50

Too ‘melodramatic’, unrealistic and sensationalist